City of Greensboro

September 22, 2009
In This Issue
City Council Action Wrap-Up
City Names New Director of Transportation
2009 Municipal Election
City Issues New Population Estimate
NeighborWoods Event Planned in Fisher Park
 
Did You Know?
Council Meeting Cancelled
The City Council meeting scheduled for October 6 at 5:30 pm has been cancelled. View Council's meeting calendar.
 
GPD Welcomes New Recruits
Thirty-three police recruits graduated Friday, September 18, from the Greensboro Police Department's 90th Police Basic Introductory Course. The officers will now be assigned to various field operation divisions and will work with a police training officer for 14 weeks before patrolling on their own. Watch the graduation ceremony.
 
Safe, Sound and Fit
Greensboro senior citizens are invited to the "Safe, Sound and Fit" workshop on Thursday, September 24, from 9 am to 3:30 pm at the Smith Senior Center, 2401 Fairview St. The free workshop includes sessions on personal safety, health, community resources, prescription medications, making healthy choices, and much more. To reserve a spot, call 373-2723.

New Mountains-to-Sea Trail
You can be one of the first to explore the new 440-acre Mountains-to-Sea Trail (MST) on Saturday, October 3. Join other hikers at Northern Guilford High School's parking lot, 7101 Spencer Dixon Rd. at 10 am. This hike showcases the future MST route from Plainfield Road to the Haw River State Park property at Church Street.

GYC Membership Drive
Greensboro Youth Council's (GYC) fall membership drive is now underway. Guilford County High School students interested in learning volunteer and leadership skills are encouraged to join. Orientation for interested students will take place from 6-6:30 pm on October 1 and October 8 at the GYC office, 501 Yanceyville St. 

Apply to Serve on Housing Boards
Applications are now being accepted for membership on the Greensboro Historic Preservation Commission and the Design Review Committee. Interested applicants should fill out an interest form and mail it, along with a resume or bio, to the City Clerk's Office, PO Box 3136, Greensboro, NC 27402-3136. For more information, call 373-2349.
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City Council Action Wrap-Up
Council approves supplement funding agreement with NCDOT to complete Hester Park Dam.
 
At its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 15, City Council approved an agreement with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) for supplement funding in the amount of $54,000 to complete the reconstruction of the dam at Oka T. Hester Park.

Back in 2001, the City entered into a municipal agreement with NCDOT to cover the cost of relocating the Hester Park Dam due to construction of the Urban Loop from north I-85 to north of High Point Road. In 2006, the agreement was amended with a provision to cover the cost of making repairs to the dam. The total amount of the agreement was $500,000.

The City completed reconstruction of the dam in the summer of 2007. But due to drought and soil conditions, the grass did not get established over the special concrete material used to anchor the embankment, so it will have to be replanted. Also, a closed-circuit TV inspection of the dam's storm drain is needed and NC Dam Safety requires the development of an emergency action plan. The City will use the $54,000 to complete this work.
 
Council also: 
  • Approved two incentive packages totaling $1.58 million funded with money from a voter-approved economic development bond for McConnell Center Industrial Park and DDC Investments for construction and development; the companies will get $1.08 million and $500,000 respectively.
  • Approved changes to the City's panhandling ordinance further restricting where people can solicit money. The new restrictions, which are now in effect, include bans on panhandling in parking lots and decks, by entrances to businesses or homes, and near banks and ATMs. The new restrictions also make it a misdemeanor to panhandle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

To view the entire meeting or past meetings, visit City Council's video archive page.
City Names New Director of Transportation
Adam Fischer will oversee department.
 
Adam FischerGreensboro Interim City Manager Bob Morgan recently announced the selection of Adam Fischer as Director of Transportation. The selection of Fischer concludes an extensive recruiting and interviewing process.

Fischer, who has served as Acting Director of Transportation since March 2008, will oversee efforts to plan, construct and maintain Greensboro's transportation infrastructure, and direct operations of the Greensboro Transit Authority (GTA).
 
"I have spent my entire career with the City of Greensboro and welcome the opportunity to serve in the permanent role of Director of Transportation," said Fischer. "I look forward to working with the City's talented team of transportation professionals to enhance transportation throughout the city." 
 
Read more about Fischer's appointment.
2009 Municipal Election

Do you know your district?

The 2009 Municipal Election will be held Tuesday, November 3. Early voting for the October 6 Municipal Primaries is going on now through October 2. Get voting times and locations here. And as a reminder, Greensboro City Council districts were changed in 2008, so check to see which district you live in. Visit Guilford County Board of Elections' Web site for more election information.
City Issues New Population Estimate
Estimate updated to reflect reduced population in group homes and adjusted home vacancy rates.
 
The annual estimate for Greensboro's official population as of July 1, 2009 is 257,997. This represents a very slight decrease, 0.26 percent, from last year's estimate of 258,671, reflecting reduced population in group quarters (dorms, nursing care facilities, etc.) and adjusted home vacancy rates. 

This year's official population estimate was influenced by several factors, including:
  • A reduction in people living in group quarters. The estimate was reduced after it was found that several facilities, which were counted in last year's estimate, were actually located outside Greensboro city limits. Also, several other facilities were closed.
  • The first time use of data from the American Community Survey (ACS) at the Greensboro level (instead of Guilford County level) to determine housing vacancy rates and average household size.
  • Significantly fewer people were annexed into the city this year versus last year.
  • Inclusion of the annual count of the City's homeless population.

Additional statistics for the City of Greensboro can be found online.
NeighborWoods Event Planned in Fisher Park
Volunteers welcomed to help plant trees.
 
NeighborWoodsThe City, in collaboration with Greensboro Beautiful and the Fisher Park Neighborhood Association, will hold the 2009 NeighborWoods Tree Planting event Saturday, November 7, at 9 am in the Fisher Park neighborhood.

The purpose of the program is to educate the community on the importance of trees and the role they play in improving air and water quality, reducing energy costs, increasing real estate values, providing wildlife habitat, and creating opportunities for residents to relax and enjoy nature.

Volunteers are welcomed to help plant trees throughout the Fisher Park neighborhood to restore tree cover lost during storms and development.

Individuals, groups, clubs and organizations wishing to volunteer can do so by contacting Mary Sertell, Urban Designer for the City, at 373-4769.